Sponge Bob and T Rex

Iva still absolutely loves her guinea pigs. She has prayed twice for the guinea pigs during sharing time. She drew them on her title of liberty of being what is most important to her. And she said she can prepare to go to the temple by taking care of her guinea pigs. She is obsessed to say the least.

Fossil Creek

Fossil Creek has been on our bucket list for awhile, but we had been warned parking was limited and you had to get there first thing in the morning or you wouldn't get a spot. It is about an hour and forty five minute drive for us so we hadn't made it there yet. This year, they changed the rules and you have to get a permit/ parking pass online ahead of time.

I booked our permit online and just found the only parking lot that was available the day we could go. (I wish I had seen the above map before I booked it.) I thought all parking lots were created equal. Wrong! We hiked from the Homestead parking lot all the way to water fall and back to Tonto Bench parking lot (4.85 miles). The kids and I found a shady spot to sit and wait while Shawn ran the rest of the way to the car and then drove back to pick us up.

The kids were troopers and didn't complain at all! They seriously walked so far. Iva and I had learned the pioneer children walked and walked song the week before in primary and she sang it the whole time for us. Very fitting. The kids loved stopping at all the swimming holes along the way and having snacks.

We made it to the main waterfall and saw lots of people sliding down it and jumping off of it. Charlie thought it was awesome. We just watched people and swam up to the waterfall. I didn't get any pictures because while we were swimming, we saw someone using a selfie stick drop their phone in the water. I didn't want that to be us.

We had a great trip and definitely plan to go back, but we will have a better game plan next time and be better prepared. 

Four Year Old Shots

Oh boy, poor Iva. Immediately following her birthday party, we headed to the doctor for her preschool check up. It consisted of a eye test, hearing test, lot of shots, and a blood draw. She was all nervous smiles before the shots.

For the first time, she passed the hearing test. Last year, she was so shy that she wouldn't raise her hand. This year she raised her hand and even answered the doctor's questions. She has come a long way and we are so proud of her.

She did great with the shots. There were minimal tears. The doctor told her she wouldn't need shots for a long time and she reminded us of that every 30 seconds on the drive to get her blood drawn. I waited in the waiting room with Henry and Charlie while she and Shawn went to have her blood drawn. Shawn said she did great and she wasn't crying when she came out. He said the nurse had her count to ten over and over. He said her voice was so shaky, but she kept on counting.

Birthday Party

This was the first year that Iva asked for a birthday party with friends. She had quite easy requests. She wanted an ocean creature cake, water balloons, swimming, and jumping on the trampoline. I thought I could handle that no problem. And we did! I planned the party for when Shawn would be home to help, but as luck would have it, he ended up having a test right during the party.

Iva had a great birthday party and was so happy to play with her friends. They just ran wild in the backyard the entire time. We didn't even open the door to the house- parents dropped them off and picked them up from the side gate. She can't wait for her pool party next year. Me neither.

Betta

Grammie and Grampie Shaver got Iva a fish tank for her birthday. Her betta got a major upgrade and she loves it! There are snails on the way. Iva is obsessed with snails and can hardly wait for the mailman to bring them. Iva draws her fish tank about 100 times a day.

FOUR!

Iva is FOUR and I can hardly believe it... It seems like just yesterday we were driving to the hospital to be induced and praying that no one in active labor beat us to the hospital or we would be bumped yet again. And now she is four and starting preschool (Headstart.)

This was my favorite Iva birthday to date. She was so easy to please and excited about everything. She remembered her "ribbons" from her last birthday and wanted green and blue this year. Seeing her (and Charlie's excitement) made it completely worth it.

She had to wait all day for Shawn to come home so she could open her presents and I thought she wasn't going to make it a few times. She was quite the character opening presents. She was so excited for every present and hugged every present like it was the best thing ever.

After presents, we headed out to dinner. Iva picked pizza dinner for her birthday. We tried a new place, Rays, and it was so good. Iva loved it and was happy with her dinner. Then we went and got green slushies from Sonic. It was a great little birthday.

Baby Shower

When we first moved to AZ, we lived in the Foothills ward. I made some great friends in that ward, but after we moved and life picked up, we didn't see each other as much. So when I had the chance to throw a baby shower for one of my first friends in AZ, Abby West, with another first friend in AZ, Jaimee Anderson, I couldn't pass that up. We are so excited for Baby Boy West to come and for Clara to be a big sister.

While I hosted the baby shower, Shawn took the kids to the mall. He sent me these pictures and I love them. He is a brave soul to take them to the mall on a Saturday!

Sun Splash

Shawn had a day off during his psych rotation. We had been waiting for a day off besides Saturday so we could use the pogo pass and go to Sun Splash, a water park. We went and had a blast!

We got the kids used to the idea of water slides by starting out on the little toddler one. Then we went to a slightly bigger one. Both Iva and Charlie loved it. (Click on the links to watch the videos.)

After they went down the slides, Iva and dada headed off to the big slides. I, honestly, didn't think Iva would go, but she surprised me and went down all the slides with Shawn. She was begging to go down again and again. She loved it!

Charlie, Henry and I ate dippin dots and played in the splash pad area while they did the slides. It was a perfect afternoon with the perfect spots for everyone. 

The family favorite was floating the lazy river over and over again. They loved it and Henry was a zombie baby. I think if we had gone around one more time, he would have fallen asleep. He was so comfy and relaxed. We will definitely be going back next summer. 

Makutu's Island

My friend, Jackie, invited us to go to Makutu's Island with her and her kids. We both have POGO passes and it is one of the places you can go. I am not sure I would ever go back alone. The kids absolutely loved it, but it was crazy! It is a huge play place- imagine like ten McDonald's play places all connected inside a fake tree. And having 20 different possible ways to get out. I hardly got any pictures because I never had a chance chasing three different kids twenty different places. We did take a short break in the baby play area and I got some pictures there. And I got a video of Iva falling off the zipline. We will have to go back when we have helpers.